How to Become an Accidental Activist by Elizabeth MacLeod

Author:Elizabeth MacLeod
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459826137
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2021-02-11T19:49:15+00:00

On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner, a Black man, died when a white New York City police officer held him in a chokehold. On the fifth anniversary of his death, people took part in a protest to remember Garner and demand justice.

Chapter Seven

Networking Works

If you want to make positive changes, you need to network and find other people who not only share the same beliefs but are also ready to act, sometimes even despite fierce opposition.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis knew that. Educated in France, she admired how that country proudly preserved its beautiful historic buildings. At a time when many old buildings in the United States were being replaced by boxy “modern” structures, she fought to preserve them.

She started her restoration efforts as First Lady of the United States. On February 14, 1962, she led a tour of the White House that was broadcast on TV. To her delight, it was a hit. That warm reception sparked her to advocate for preserving historic Lafayette Square in Washington, DC. She networked with influential people and helped establish the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act.

In 1975 she moved to New York City, where she successfully led the efforts to preserve Grand Central Station, one of the great symbols of New York City.

In Pakistan, Gulalai Ismail also acted to create change. At age 16 she cofounded the organization Aware Girls with her sister, Saba, to stop oppression and violence against rural women.

Girls in Pakistan were being forced into marriages and prevented from getting educations. “Women had few rights and were not permitted to make their own decisions about their lives and futures,” Ismail said.

Despite opposition from the government, Ismail trained young women to speak up. Although she won support, awards and admiration from around the world, she was forced to go into hiding. With the help of friends and supporters, she eventually reached the United States in September 2019. She continued to protect women in conflict through Voices for Peace and Democracy, the organization she established after fleeing Pakistan.

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